Galapagar

Galapagar is a town northwest of Madrid, Spain, situated in the administrative region of the Community of Madrid. Of all the towns in the area, it is experiencing the most growth, mostly because of immigration and the conversion of old livestock fields into terrain for construction. Its population is over 26,000 people.

Galapagar is served both by Cercanias train service at its station Galapager-La Navata and to one end by the interurbano bus service linking it with Moncloa in Madrid.

The name Galapagar comes from the Spanish "galápago", meaning turtle, as the town centre was settled near a lake full of turtles.

The town first appears as a village in the eleventh century, its importance due to the frequent hunting expeditions by the Spanish royalty, and being a main stop on the road from the capital to the "Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial".

The Spanish writer Jacinto Benavente, who won the 1922 Nobel Prize for Literature, is buried here.


Bullfighting, stock-breeding, meadows, and excellent beef are the main features of Galapagar. The bullfighter José Tomás was born in this place.